Beet-hakvester



L. A. GROJEAN.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. 1913.

1,310,335, Patented July 15, 1919. I 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITN ESSEQ SvwWtOZ.

7 4 I 5 W-, W, (1110614016 coLumlnA PLANUGRAI'II cn., WASHINGTON, n. c.

L. A. GROJEAN.

BEET HARVESTE RI RPPLICATlbN flLl-ID A uG- 26. I918.

. 1x310,335. Patented July 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- \9 x i U wrmssses v N gvwanto; l' ojqiz THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, D t.

L. A. GROJEAN,

BEET HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED Auelze, 191a.

Patented July 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- L. A. GROJEAN.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25, I918 1,319,335. Patented July 15, 1919.

lSHEEYS-SHEET 4- W IT'N ESS E5 3114mm LOZZZISA QFW%QH7 m v v THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CCL, WASHINGTON. D. C-

g and its LOUIS A. GROJEAN, OF CAMP CODY, NEW MEXICO.

BEET-HARVESTER.

Application filed August 26, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. GRoJEAN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Camp Cody, in the State of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to beet harvesters primaryobject is to provide an improved machine for digging and raising beets out of the ground so that both the beet and the beet tops will be carefully preserved.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a digging and beet gripping mechanism-mountedto be readily adjusted by the operator of the machine so that a greater or less depth may be plowed according to the size or species of the beet.

The invention also aims to provide a device of this character that may be constructed so that a number of rows of beets may be dug at the same time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which consists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character are ordinarily subjected.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the arrangement with some of the parts removed to more clearly illustrate the mode of operation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the invention. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the front end the beet elevator mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a portion of the gripping device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the invention employed in connection with the beet gripping device.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing more clearly the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the frame employed for guiding the beet gripping de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919. Serial No. 251,471.

9 is a detail perspective view of one supporting members mounted on the Fig. of the frame.

Referring to the drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the frame 1 is mounted upon wheels 2 by which the device is made portable. The front end of the frame is supported by the front wheels 3 to which are connected standards engaged with the frame. Mounted for longitudinal sliding movement upon the side bars-of the frame is a slidable bearing 4 which supports a shaft 5 extending transversely across the frame and one end of which is provided with sprockets 6 over which are trained chains 7 passing over sprockets 8 on the rear axle 9 whereby the shaft 5 may be driven when the wheels are turned during movement of the machine. Near the forward end of each side bar of the frame is a slidably mounted supporting member 10 from which depends an arm 11 connected to a bracket 12 the lower end of which supports a rod 13 extending rearwardly and disposed in close proximity to the ground when the machine is operating. A connecting bar 14 has one end fixed to the shaft 5 and its opposite end joined to the rearwardly extending end of the rod 13 and, as shown to advantage in Fig. 1, one of these connecting bars 14 is provided for each digging and elevating apparatus. It should be understood, in this connection, that Fig. 1 is an illustration of a machine adapted to dig four rows of beets simultaneously and since all of the mechanism for each row will be identical a description of one will suffice.

As shown clearly in Figs. 4, and 7 of the drawings, the connecting bar 14 is joined to the bracket member 12 through the medium of the rearwardly extending portion 13 which comprises a substantially yoke like member illustrated to advantage in Fig. 7. Between the arms of this yoke member are mounted a pair of wheels 15 and 15. The wheel 15 is mounted upon a pin 16 carried by one arm of theyoke member and this wheel is provided with an annular groove through which a chain 17 passes and this chain extends rearwardly and upwardly to be" received on a Wheel 18 mounted on the shaft The wheel 15 is exactly the same as the wheel 15 and is mounted on the opposite arm of the yoke member 13 and is provided wtih an annular groove and has a cooperating chain 17 which travels parallel to the chain 17 and passes over a complementary sprocket or wheel 18 mounted adjacent the wheel 18, on the shaft 5. A supporting wheel 20 is mounted between the sprocket members 15 and 15 and is carried by a pin 21 mounted at the end of a movable arm 22 which has its opposite end attached to a turn pin 23 mounted in a bearing on the end of the bar 14. The opposite end of the pin 23 is connected by a lever 24 to an actuating rod 25 which is connected to a lever 26 arranged adjacent the drivers seat 27 whereby the driver may conveniently operate the lever 26 to actuate the member 22 for raising and lowering the wheel 20 as desired.

The chains which pass around the wheels 15 and 15 are trained over guide pulleys 28 and 29 causing the rearwardly extending parallel portions of the chains to be arranged in close proximity as shown to advantage in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The chain also has its links provided with a plurality of teeth 30 shown to advantage in Fig. 5 whereby the two sets of teeth are projected toward each other as shown for the purpose of gripping the beets between the parallel portions of the chain and carrying them to an elevated position when the machine is in operation.

A plow supporting frame 31 is connected as at 32 to the forward end of the frame 1 and supports a pair of plows which operate beneath the surface of the ground and to raise the beet. These plows, indicated at 33 are adapted to be raised and lowered and consequently the frame 31 is pivotally connected as at 32 whereby the frame may be swung upwardly and downwardly to raise and lower the plows 33. To accomplish this, each side of the frame at the rear end thereof, is connected to a flexible chain 34 which is trained over a shaft 35 carried by supporting members 36 which are fixed to the side bars of the main frame 1. Since the ends of the chain are secured to this shaft it will be obvious that when the shaft is turned, the chains will be wound upon the shaft and the plow frame will be lifted for raisin the plows. One end of the shaft 35 is provided with a clutch 38 which is adapted to be operated by a lever 39 having its end disposed in proximity to the drivers seat. In this connection it should be pointed out that where a machine is constructed for a plurality of rows of beets, it is necessary to provide two operators seats as shown for the reason that one operator cannot attend to more than two rows of beets during the digging and lifting operation of the machine. When the clutch 38 is thrown into operative position the shaft 35 will be turned by a sprocket 40 over which a chain 41 is trained, this chain being driven from a sprocket 42 on the shaft 5.

On one of the sides of the main frame 1 I have mounted a lever 43 pivotally connected as at 44 and disposed adjacent one of the drivers seats. A connecting bar 45 connects this lever 43 with the movable bearing 4 and a forwardly extending connecting rod 46 connects the lever 43 with the movable member 10 so that all of the mechanism supported by the movable members 4 and 10 including the shafts, connecting bar 14 and the lifting mechanism may be moved longitudinally when the operating lever 43 is actuated. Thus the relative position of the lifting mechanism with respect to the plow may be readily changed by actuating the lever 43. The position of the plow may be changed by raising and lowering the same and in this manner the device is adapted to adjust itself to different conditions of soil, different species of beets, and this adjustment is readily obtained by the operator without moving from his seat.

In order that the beets may be disconnected from the teeth 30 on the chains, I have provided a structure, whereby the upper portions of the chains are separated to permit the beet to be dropped. Fig. 8 shows one of the frame bars having the chain guide rollers 50 and 51 mounted thereon. The roller 50 is considerably nearer the bar 14 than is the roller 51, both being supported by suitable brackets 52 so that the upper portions of the two parallel chains are separated at their highest point as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing before they pass over the sprockets provided for this purpose. This causes the teeth to disengage the beets whereby they may be dropped beneath the frame.

The teeth of the chain are cleaned of any clogs of earth by suitably mounted rotary brushes 53 arranged adjacent the sprockets over which the chains travel on the shaft 5.

Each beet elevatin device is also provided with a top cutting mechanism which comprises a pair of rotary knives shown to advantage in Fig. 3 as indicated at 54 and 55, the marginal edges of the knives being adapted to co-act directly beneath the chain to sever the beet tops from the body of the beet just prior to the dropping of the beet. These knives are adapted to be rotated by sprockets 56 which engage the chains 17 and 17.

A conveyor 57 is arranged to extend transversely beneath the main frame and carry the beets and beet tops to one side of the machine while the same is in. operation.

The brushes 53 are mounted upon the bearing pins 58 of a bracket 59 as shown in Fig. 8.

When the machine is in operation, the

x pllow lifting mechanism will be :operatedito 1 dispose the r. plow the iproper'iedepthr in-' 1 the ground 'l'forvengaging and 'lifting 'zthewb'eet.

Ilhe forwardvenda of; the carriertmetlianism,

abeing disposed inv closezsproximitywtoi the .ground and improper relative position with they are raised-by the ipl'ow -3 are each mounted upomaz shaft Gfifisup ed. from the .bara- M by'bracketswfil andi the ion 62 engaged with arbeveled gear 63 respect to :the plow; will be cremated to cause the'teeth' on the chain tos'gmigi thebeets ms hereuvponthe beets will be .icarriedi; tofanielevatedrposition andv theitops w-ill be aeutz by -ttherotaryrknives 54 and 55. 'lhese kniveswasdshown Fig.

upper' :end of reach shaft f60 has a beve pinis carriedby the sprocket efitsofthatz-when the chain-1. eugagesithei 'sp-rooket,is-ithertgears will! be'rotatedito Eimpartia" mtary movement to. the shaft for turning: the cutting kn iyes.

rWhen i the: cutting lmivesihave; severed the top from the beet! thetopuwillz. dropthe .conveyer 57 .and thefbe'et' will ubefiearried farther towardthe -rear' of the'machi ne l and dropped when the :ehains separate by virture of its "engagement "with the rollers 50 and 51. There-fore the beets and beet t'ops are received on theconveyer to bei" carried to one side of the machinewhre' th'ey may be received in a suitable receptacle.

The foregoing descriptien accelepanying drawings have reference to "what might be considered to 'be the preferred or approved form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make certain changes in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions et cetera as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A beet harvester comprising a frame, a vertically adjustable plow supported by the frame, and a longitudinally adjustable gripping device disposed forwardly of the plow and adjustable toward and away from the said plow.

2. A beet harvester comprising a portable frame having longitudinal side bars, a vertically adjustable plow attached to the frame and suspended therefrom, longitudinally adjustable supporting elements mounted on the frame bars and carrying sprocket members, and gripping chains tralned over the sprocket members and having portion thereof disposed in proximity to the said justable supporting elements mounted on *t'he frame bars andcarrying sprocketmembers, andgripp'ing chainsmrain edbver the "Zsprocket members and having portions thereofdispo'sed in proximit plow "and adapted"to "be'moved towarcband away from the plowwhen'thesaid 'adjust "able 'supporting members are moved on the sai"d*frame bars,- and means mounted upon -t he" frame" to manually imp art longitudinal movement to' the said-adjustable supporting 'means. p

4. --Ab'eet harvester comprisin a portable framehavinglongitudinal side loars, longi- 'tudinally evab1e supportingv members mounted on the-frame bars, a bracket suspended from one of the supporting membersand*carryingsprocket wheels, a shaft supportedabovethe frame by the other'sup- :porting:member, sprockets mounted on the said shafi? and' having chains trained thereover,-s'a'id* chains being engaged with the *sproc'ket en the said suspended brackets, andwadapted 'to -traveh' proximity to the i 'groun'd eiterate-near the said sprockets, and

teeth mounted on the said chains.

F5. A beet 'harvestercomprisinga portable frame, a yertiealiy movable frame attached to the uiriainframe and "carrying a plow adapted to be disposed beneath the main frame, 'fo'r *verticany adjusting "the p'lowdrame to raise and lower the plow, and flexible gripping devices supported by the frame and provided with means to permit longitudinal adjustment of the gripping devices toward and away from the said plow, and means to actuate the said gripping devlces.

6. A beet harvester comprising a portable frame, a vertically movable frame attached to the main frame and carrying a plow adapted to be disposed beneath the main frame, means for vertically adjusting the low frame to raise and lower the plow, and

exible gripping devices supported by the frame and provided with means to permit longitudinal adjustment of the gripping devices toward and awe from the said plow, the said gripping devices comprising parallel chains having teeth projecting toward each other to receive the beets therebetween.

7. A beet harvester comprising a portable frame, a vertically movable frame attached to the main frame and carrying a plow adapted to be disposed beneath the main frame, means for vertically adjusting the plow frame to raise and lower the plow, and flexible gripping devices supported by the frame and provided with means to permit longitudinal adjustment of the gripping devices toward and away from the said plow, the said gripping devices comprising parallel chains having teeth projecting toward each other to receive the beets therebetween, the said chains having guide rollers to cause portions of the parallel chains to diverge, whereby the said teeth in the chain will move apart for disengaging the beet.

8. A beet harvester comprising a main frame including parallel frame bars, a movable bearing mounted upon the frame bars and supporting a shaft, a movable sliding member also mounted on the said frame bars, an actuating lever, connecting bars joined to the said actuating lever and to the said movable members on the frame bars to simultaneously move the said members when the said'actuating lever is operated, a bracket supported from the said movable member and carrying sprockets normally disposed in close proximity to the ground, a gripping device comprising parallel chains passed over the said sprockets andprovided with teeth extending toward each other, the said bearing having a shaftprovided' with sprockets to receive the said chains and maintain the said chains on an incline, and guide elements having the chain. trained thereon to cause the said parallel chains to be separated at points adjacent their highest point of travel.

9. A beet harvester comprising a main frame including parallel framebars, a movable bearing mounted upon'the frame bars the said actuating lever is operated, a

bracket supported from the said movable member and car *ying sprockets normally disposed in close proximity to the ground,

- a grippingdevice comprising parallel chains passed over the said sprockets and provided with teeth extending toward each other, the said bearing havinga shaft provided with sprockets to receive the said chains and maintainthe said chains on an incline, and guide elements having the chain trained thereon to cause the said parallel chains to be-separated at points adjacent their highest point of travel, and cutting elements operating adjacent the said separated portions of the said parallel chains.

'In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS A. GROJEAN. l/Vitnesses:

SAMUEL E COUSINS, GEO. L. ScHMm'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 110. 

